Thrashing-machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

H. M. SMITH. Thrashing Machine.

Patented Se'pt. 7, 1880.`

ihr

j'Z/g N,PETERS, FHOTO-L1THOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. lIl C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.- H. M. SMITH. Thrashi'ng Machine.

No. 282,080. Patented sept. 7,1880.

IlrrEn STATES PATENT OEEicE.

THRASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,080, datedSeptember 7, 1880.

i Application filed February 6, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM M. SMITH, of

Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Tl'irashing-Machines; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the 1o same, reference bein g had to theaccom pan ying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon,which form apart of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation of thrasher and separator embodying myinventions. Fig. 2

I5 is a top-plan view of the same, the top part of the casing beingremoved. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the devices for supporting thecylinder-axle and its box, the axle being shown in transverse section.Fig. 4 is a partial view 2o of the cylinder and the devices for mountingthe same, it being' a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal section of the apron-rake on line w x, Fig. 2, parts of thecylinder and vibrator being shown to illustrate the relative positions.Fig. 6 is a transverse section of one of the boxes in which thecylinder-shaft is mounted.

In the drawings the machine is represented as being supported upon aframe-work con- 3o sisting of longitudinal sills A, uprights B B, forsupporting the cylinder-fratrie, and uprights O C', for supporting theouter end of the separator-frame.

The material is fed to the machine from a 3 5 table, I), of any desiredcharacter.

A casing, E E', is placed around and above the operative devices, ofsubstantially the ordinary construction.

F represents the thrashing-cylinder, which 4.o is constructed in thefollowing manner: It is formed of solid wood, preferably about fifteeninches in diameter, and is bored at the center to form an aperture abouteight inches in diameter, as shown at F. At each end the cyl- 4 5 inderis iitted with cast'iron headsf, which are secured to steel axles G.Holes to receive the teeth are bored in the face of the cylinder, and itis then covered with sheet-iron, through which holes are punchedcorrespoudingin po- 5o sition to the holes in the wooden portion.

I I' represent cast-iron plates fastened upon the inside of thethrasher-frame at the respective ends of the cylinder and parallel withsaid ends. At or near the lower edges of these plates I I recesses i iare formed to receive and support the bars K, forming the hed or concavebeneath the cylinder. l

L L are tenons projecting outwardly from the plates I I', respectively,through the casing or frame of the machine, they being cast 6o with orrigidly attached to theplates I Il. Ll L are similar tenons projectingthrough the casing from the plates I I', at or near the bottom of theplates. The tenons L L L L are provided with al'iertures, for a purposeto be 65 shortly described.

M represents a fork-shaped or U-shaped support or mounting for thecylinder. It consists of a vertical shank, M', which is screwthreaded atits lower end. At the upper end 7o there is attached to the shank M' theU-shaped part M2, arranged to project upwardly on opposite sides oftheeylinder-shaf The upper ends, m m, of the U-shaped part M2 are providedwith screw-threaded apertures,through which pass pointed screws m' m inopposite directions, substantially on the central horizontal plane ofthe cylinder-shaft.

The mounting or fork M M2 is supported upon the lower tenon by means ofnuts mZm, 8o arranged one above and the other below the tenon. Thesenuts engage with the screwthreaded part evthc shank M', and by means ofthem the support or ineuntiuglll M2 may be raised or lowered, as will bereadily seen.

N N represent the boxes surrounding the cylinder-axle. They are providedupon opposite sides with recesses at a to receive the pointed portionsof the screws m m. u n' represent lock-nuts or jam-nuts arranged to 9ofasten-the screws in any desired position.v

It will now lie seen that when the cylinder, its axles or shaft, andboxes are in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4: they are supportedupon the screws m m', which are carried by the U-shaped inountings M M2,and that these lnountin gs, in turn, are supported upon the teions L. Bymeans of these devices there is per initted an automatic adjustment ofthe cylinder and its boxes, as may be required by irreguroo larities inthe motion of the cylinder, or by any accidental bending of the shaft oraxle, and

also an artificial adjustment vertically and laterally.

The automatic adjustment of the cylinder is oneof great importance. Bymy construction the boxes are allowed to adapt themselves to anyvibrations or irregular movements of the axles. The axles or shafts ofthrashing-cylinders, as is well known by those acquainted with theiroperation, often become, by jars and otherwise, more or less bent orcrooked, and the variations from truth thus produced cause greatfriction and heating in the boxes. The stationary boxes, (that havebeenheretofore used,) secured rigidly in position and arranged to lit theshaft or axle tightly, prevent an automatic adjustment of the parts a-ndseriously interfere with the operation of the belt or driving devices,and even when driven become, from the variations above described, so hotas to often ruin both axles and boxes.

The boxes which I have shown and described are allowed to have auniversal motion, they being suspended upon the machine by substantiallyuniversal joints. The screws m m allow the boxes to turn or oscillatevertically upon the line of the screws, and the shanks or stems M of theU-shaped supports allow the boxes to turn horizontally, so that the boxcan accommodate itself to any position that may be taken by the axle orshaft, and thus prevent any undue strain or friction upon it. It isfound practically that the causing of bends or crooks in the axles isalmost unavoidable, the belt of itself being sufficient to produce avariation from a proper line. The support which I have described permitsthe boxes to readily adapt themselves to the position of the axles orshafts even when making two thou sand revolutions a minute. Moreover,when one end of the cylinder is raised relative to and without theother, both boxes would be cramped on the axle if there were not anautomatic adjustment of the boxes.

When it is desired to adjust the position of the cylinder laterally orhorizontally relative to its mounting, the adjustment can beaccomplished by means of the screws m m', and a vertical adjustment ofthe cylinder is accomplished by means of the nuts m2 m3 and tenon L.

The upper tenons, L L, serve to hold the upper parts of the mountings MM2 firmly in position without interfering with the vertical adjustmentof the same or interfering with the lateral vibrations of the boxes.

N N represent oil-receptacles formed with or att-ached to the boxes N.They are preferably tubular in forni, the interior of the cavity beingarranged to extend some distance below the bottom of the interior of thebox, the aperture by which the oil passes from the receptacle N to thesurface of 'the axle being, however, substantially on the centralhorizontal line of the axle, as shown at a4. There is thus formed belowthe aperture n4 a reservoir, n3, into which is placed a feeding-wickextending from the bottom of the oil-receptacle to within a shortdistance of the top of the same. The feed-aperture at is constructed topermit the wick to touch the axle at the aperture, whereby a rapid flowof oil is prevented, and yet the oil is evenly and uniformly supplied tothe axle, the wick operating by capillary attraction to feed the oileven after the receptacle has emptied toa point below the feed-apertureat. By this arrangem cnt a very small amount of oil may be utilized tothoroughly lubricate the axle for a long time, a spoonful being found tobe sufficient for an hour or more while the machine is in operation. Thewick is arranged to leave a small open space at the top of thereceptacle N', so as to conveniently guide the one who is filling thereceptacle with oil.

N2 N2 are caps or covers for the oil-holders, secured to a rod, n2,which is hinged upon the upper side of the box. The metal holders arearranged to lubricate the axle and boxes at or near each end, so as toevenly distribute the oil at all times.

Heretofore in operating thrashing and separating machines muchdifficulty has been ex perienced in properly separating the grain fromthe straw after they have left the cylin der, owing to the tendency ofthe straw to pile up on the vibrator which receives it from thecylinder. l have succeeded in overcoming the difculties that have beenmet with by the following devices, adapted to control the velocity withwhich the straw and grain move at the instant they leave the cylinder:

O O represent wheels, situated respectively upon opposite sides of themachine and on the inside of the casin g. They are mounted upon shortstud-shafts o, Fig. 5, 0', Fig. l, projecting inwardly, which areattached to plates o2 02, situated upon the outside of the casing. Thestud-shafts o o project through slots formed in the casing for theirreception. The plates 02 02 are held in place by means of nuts o3,engaging with outwardly -projecting screws, the plates being providedwith slots 04, whereby the plates, the stud-shafts o o', and the wheelsOO maybe adjusted laterally.

P represents a shaft mounted in the frame or casing of the machine at apoint some distance farther from the cylinder than the wheels O O.

P P represent sprocket-wheels secured to the shaft P, said wheelsrespectively corresponding in position and size to the wheels O O.

Q represents an endless revolving slatted apron-rake mounted upon thewheels O O P P. This rake is preferably constructed in the followingmanner: q q are endless chains, arranged to pass respectively around thewheels O P and the wheels O P', the links of the chain being of suitablesize to properly engage with the teeth upon the sprocketwheels P P2. q2q2 represent wooden slats, arrtnged to form a traveling table or apronas tight as possible, the width of the slats TOO.

IIO

' volving apron-rake Q.

being substantially the same as the length of the links of the chains qg. The slats are attached to the links of the chain by means of angesprojecting inwardly from the links and riveted to the slats at therespective ends. g3 g3 represent wire teeth attached to the slats oftheapron-rake Q. R is a bar situated on the inside of the frame immediatelyin rear of the cylinder and firmly secured to the walls of the casing. Ris a similar cross-bar situated on a line somewhat farther from thecylinder than the shaft P.

A metallic slotted table or shield, S S S2, is

situated immediately below the endless re- (See Figs. l and 5.) Thismetallic table is preferably made in sections, which at the ends arerespectively secured iirmly to the cross-bars R R', each section heiligbent at a point near the shaft l? downward, as shown at S, then outwardand upward, as shown at S2, to bar R, the sections being placed apartsufficiently .to permit the teeth q of the apron-rake to pass freelybetween them. By examining the drawings it will be seen that the teethg3 of the rake in passing backward away from the cylinder graduallywithdraw above the lower slotted table as they pass those portions ofthe table represented by S S2, and that they ultimately arc entirelywithdrawn from below or outside ofthe table, remaining so until they areagain brought down at the end nearest the cylinder.

The operation ofthese last-described devices is to receive the straw asit leaves the cylinder, partially check it in its movements, reduce itfrom the high rate of speed imparted to it by the cylinder, anduniformly spread and distribute it over the inner end of the vibrator,the teeth of the rake being somewhat bent backwardly to assist in thisoperation.

From an examination of the drawings it will be seen that theapron-rakeis situated as nea-r as practicable to the cylinder itself, sothat the straw shall be thrown by the cylinder directly againsttheralie, or within instant reach of its teeth, and also that the heelor inner end of the vibrator is located as near as possible to thecylinder. The apron-rake does not operate to entirely stop the strawwhile under momentum from the cylinder, but reduces its rate of speed,so that it can be effectually operated upon by the inner end of thevibrator, where much difficulty has been heretofore experienced, fromthefactthat the great difference between the speeds of the cylinder andof the vibrator results in a doubling or piling up ofthe straw upon thevibratorat the point where the straw is received from the cylinder.

As it is necessary to have between theendless rake and the vibrator asunich space as possible for the free passage of stra-w, the peculiarshape of the slotted shield which Ihave devised is required in orderthat the colnparatively short teeth of the rake may work upon the strawas long as possible before being withdrawn therefrom. Therefore theslotted shield throughout the greater part of its length is as near aspossible in the path of the body of the apron, and is not bent to permitthe withdrawal of the teeth until they have traversed nearly the wholeof their lower path.

By means of the slotted plates o2 o2 the position of the stud-shafts oo' and the wheels O O can be adjusted relative to the shaft l? as may bedesired to compensate for wear or straining ofthe chains q q', or forany other reason.

T represents the vibrator, upon which the grain and straw are receivedafter leaving the cylinder, and which, by its agitating action, causesthe separation of the grain from the Straw.

I have shown and will describe an improved method of impartingreciprocating motion to the vibrator.

I have found much difficulty with thrashingmachines having undershotcylinders similar to that shown and described herein, and havingvibrators reciprocated by devices receiving power at a point below thevibrator, there being many occasions, while practically operating suchmachines` to repair the driving machinery of the vibrators. A machinesimilar to the one herein shown has no means nor space for impartingmotion to the vibrator from below, and therefore to operate it frombelow requires the addition of supplemental parts.

With my improved machine a reciprocating movement isim parted to thevibrator by means of the shaft which drives the apron-rake, said shaftcarrying outside the casing pulleys T' T2, which are connected, bypitmen T3, with the vibrator. This arrangement for driving the vibratorby pitmen receiving power above the vibrator makes said pitmen at al1times accessible for repairs and places them at all times within theview of the operator, who can instantly detect anything that may begoing wrong. Moreover, by thus combining the moving devices of the apronalte and the vibrator, the motion of the one can be convenientlyregulated relative to the movement of the other, so that the straw shallbe properly delivered and distributed by the rake upon the vibrator.

A large unobstructed space is left between the vibrator and the lowerends of the teeth of the rake, as shown at Z, so that the teeth shallact, not to drag the straw directly over the surface of the vibrator,but to prevent the straw from piling so much that the vibrator cannotproperly convey it.

I am aware that thrashers have been constructed with sieves and endlessstraw-carriers to convey the straw to the rear end of the machine,andhaving teeth movin g so close to the sieves as to drag the straw overthem for the purpose of conveying and separating the same, and I do notclaim such construction.

IOO

IIO

IIS

ISO

The grain, afterl leavin g the vibrator, is conveyed to a reciprocatingsieve, U, and a fan, V, operating in substantially the usual manner.

In this patent I do not claim any of the features ot' construction orattachmcntot' the cylinder-teeth, as I have embodied that subjectmatterin another application.

What I claim is- I. In a thrashing-machine, the combination, with thecylinder and the plates I I', carryiiig tenons projecting through thecasing of the machine, of boxes or bearings for the cylinder supportedon said tenons and arranged to be vertically adjusted thereon,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the cylinder, the cylinder-boxes, and thedownwardly-projecting arms or shanks M M', carrying the cylinder-boxes,of the plates I I', situated on the inside of the machine and arrangedto support the arms or shanks M' M', substantially as set forth.

3. The metallic plates I I', constructed with the recesses it, forsupporting the concave, and with the tenons L L', which are arranged toproject laterally through the. casing, and are perforated on verticallines to receive the supporting devices of the cylinder, substantiallyas set forth.

4. In a thrashing-machine, a universally and automatically adjustablemounting for the cylinder, consisting of a movable boX supported upontwo screws which permit oscillation on a horizontal line, and anadjustable rod arranged longitudinally on a vertical line, whichsupports said horizontal screws, and is supported upon the frame of themachine and is arranged to oscillate about a vertical line,substautially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the cylinder of a thrashing-machine and thesupporting-projections L', attached to the frame-work, of thedownwardly-projecting support M' M2, which carries the cylinder, andwhich is arranged to be supported upon the projections L' and to behorizontally oscillated thereon, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the frame-Work of the machine, the cylinder,andthe downwardlyprojecting supporting-arm M', of the tenon L', whichsupports the arm M vertically, and the tenon L, having a smoothperforation, wherein the arm M' is supported laterally, substantially asset forth.

7. The combination, with the cylinder, the vibrator receiving the strawfrom the cylinder, and the apron-rake Q, arranged above the vibrator todistribute the material thereon, of the slotted shield below the rake,having the parts S contiguous to and parallel with the apron throughoutthe greater part ofits length, and the curved and depressed parts S' S2at the outer end of the apron, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing' I 65 have hereunto set my hand.

HIRAM MOOR SMITH. Witnesses ALEX. COKE, JNO. B. GRANT.

